Car-lifter.



L. HILL.

CAR LIFTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1915. I 1,186,314. 1 Patented June 6, 1916.

F'sv 3/ IV f r fr 4 IG. 5. I 5? 10 INVENTOR LJZZIE f77LL a, e 'Y W.

A TTOR/VEYS THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH -CO., WASHINGTON, D. c.

Lizzrn HILL, or WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

CAR-LIFTER;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 4, 1915. Serial No. 49,024.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lrzzrn HILL, a citizen of-the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the county of Beaufort and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Lifters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in car lifters, and the invention has for its object to provide mechanism of the character specified, for use with motor vehicles and adapted to be arranged in garages and like places, and wherein mechanism is provided controlled by the movement of the vehicle into the garage or other place where the device is arranged for lifting the vehicle and for supporting the same with the wheels out of contact with the supporting surface for the vehicle.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan View of the improved lifter, Fig. 2 is a sec,- tion taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the operation of the lifter, Figs. 3, 4: and 5 are sections on the lines 33, H, and 55, respectively, of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lifting mechanism, adapted for use without the trip blocks.

The improved lifting device is arranged on the floor of the garage represented at 1,

and the device comprises a block 2, having a recess in its upper face, the said block being adapted to support the rear axle 4 of the vehicle or car, and the recess 3 is for receiving the differential case 5 of the rear axle. The block as shown, has its upper face perpendicular to the side and end walls, but the under face of the block is inclined with respect to the upper face, the arrangement being such that the depth of the block at the rear is greater than the depth at the front. The block has a notch or recess 6 in its under side and at its rear wall and extending the full width of the block, and a coil spring 7 is connected with the block, the spring being connected at one end to the block and at the other end to the floor of the garage as indicated at 8 and 9 respectively.

The front axle 10 of the vehicle is adapted to be supported by a block 11, and the said block has in its upper face a longitudinally extending groove 12, which extends from the rear end wall to near the front end wall and the groove is at the center of the block.

The block 11 has connected to the rear end thereof a coil spring13, the said spring being connected at one end to the block and at Patented June-6, 1916-. l

the other to the floor of the garage as indicated at 1 1 and 15, respectively, and the springs 7 and 13 are adapted to return the blocks to the normal positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The block 2 rear ends of a pair of rails 16, each of the rails being hinged at its rear end to the floor of the garage by hinges 17 in such manner that the rail may be swung upwardly or downwardly with respect to the floor of the garage. A plate-IS is securedto the under face of each of the rails, and each of the plates extends from the. rear end of the rail to and beyond the front end of the rail, and the under face of the block is grooved longitudinally at each side as indicated at 19 to receive the rails.

- The frontblock 11 also rests upon rails v2O, corresponding in arrangement to the rails'16, and the-under face of the block is grooved longitudinally near each side edge as indicated at 21 to receive the rails. Each of the rails 20 is hinged to the floor of the garage at its rear end as indicated at 22, and the hinges 22 of the railsare intermediate the front and rear ends of the block when the block is in normalv position.

A stop rail or beam 23 is provided at the restsat its front end on the point where it is desired to stop the front Y of the car, and this rail is securedjto the floor of the garage in itIlYSUllZitblQ manner. 7

The blocks 2 and 11 are arranged in alinement and they are connected by a rod 24.-

This rod extends through the groove 12 of the-block 11, and therod is provided at its front end with an angular lug 25. A staple 26 prevents upward movement of the rod with respect to the groove, the staple being arranged near the rear end of the groove and the front end of the rod is bent upwardly at a slightflangle to thebody as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. The rod extends. rearwardly between the plates 18,

and through a longitudinally, extending opening in the block 2 into the notch or recess 6, and the rod is provided with a stop 27 in the recess for limiting the forward movement of the rod with respect to the block. Mechanism is provided for lifting the front ends of the plates 18, and the front ends of the rails 20, the said mechanisms being substantially the same. The mechanism for lifting the plates 18 and the rails 16 is a plate 28, and that for lifting the rails 20 is a plate 28, the said plates being alike, each having its upper side edge rounded as shown. Each of the plates 28 and 28 is secured to a shaft 29, and 29, respectively, and the shafts are journaled in bearings 30 on the floor of the garage. The outer end of each shaft 29 and 29- is provided with an upstanding radial lug 31 and 31 respectively, and at the said lug a lever or handle 32 is secured to each shaft. Each of the handles has its lower end offset laterally as indicated at 32 andv the offset portion 32 of each handle has a bearing sleeve 33, which is journaled on the adjacent shaft in such manner that the shaft may be oscillated by means of the handle.

Each handle or lever 32 has a grip at its upper end for convenience in handling the same, and coil springs 34 and 35 are connected with the opposite sides of the plate 28, the springs acting normally to hold the plate in vertical position. The blocks 2 and '11 are mounted to slide on the respective rails, and the grooves in the bottoms of the blocks prevent lateral movement of the blocks with respect to the rails.

In operation, the parts normally occupy the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. lVhen a car enters the garage, the parts being in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the front axle will engage the angular lug 25 of the rod 24. at the same moment that the difierential 5 moves into the recess 3 of the block 2. Further movement of the vehicle will move the rod 2% longitudinally, and when the stop 27 engages the inner face of the notch or recess 6, the block 2 will be moved with the rod. As the block 2 moves it will be lifted, sliding upon the rails 16, and at the same moment the block 11 will begin to move forwardly sliding up on the rails 20. As the blocks move up on the rails the front and rear wheels 36 will be gradually lifted out of contact with the floor of the garage into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. lVhen the front wheels engage the stop beam 23, which is arranged transversely of the rails and in position to stop the car at the right point, the wheels will be entirely out of contact with the floor of the garage, and the car will be supported by the axles resting upon the blocks 2 and 11. The front axle does not engage the block 11 until the block 2 has been moved into such position that the re cess 3 is at the differential casing, and at this moment both blocks begin to slide up on the rails. As soon as the rear wheels are out of contact with the supporting surface of the vehicle, it will be obvious that the said wheels no longer propel the car but at this time the car is in the proper position. with its wheels out of contact with the floor of the garage. The car is lifted gradually and without shock or jar. The distance between the blocks may be adjusted, the stop 27 being a nut which is threaded on to the rod 24. lVhen it is desired to run out the car, the handles or levers 32 are swung rearwardly, thus gradually lowering the front ends of the rails 16 and. 20, and lowering at the same time the car until the wheels can touch the floor. It is only necessary to lower the rear wheels however, since when they are in contact with the floor of the garage they can easily pull rearwardly the front wheels from off the front blocks. To place the car ready for removal it is only necessary to swing a single lever rearwardly.

The sleeve 33 of each lever 32 is loose on the shaft 29, so that the lever may swing in one direction without moving the shaft. It is only when the lever engages the lug 31 that the shaft is moved with the lever.

It will be understood that if desired the lifting device shown in Fig. 6 may be used without the blocks and the rails, the plate 28 engaging the axle directly. \Vith this arrangement the lifting device could be used at the front and rear wheels without employing the elements 3, 12, 16, 18 and 20. It is obvious that the rod 2% might if desired be connected with the rear plate 28, in such manner that the front axle would trip.

I claim 1. A device of the character specified, comprising a pair of blocks for engaging the axles, a pair of parallel rails for each block, the rails of each pair being hinged to the floor of the garage beneath the front ends of the blocks, a rod slidably connected with the front block and having an upstanding lug for engagement by the front axle, an adjustable connection between the rear end of the rod and the rear block for constraining the rear block to move with the rod,springs for returning the blocks to normal position, and means for supporting the front ends of each pair of rails and releasable to lower the said front ends, and a stop for engagement by the car when the wheels are lifted out of contact with the supporting surface for the block, each. block being grooved on its under face to receive the rails, the sup porting mechanism for the front ends of the rails comprising a plate, a shaft journaled on the floor of the garage and having one end secured to the plate, a lever connected with the outer end of the shaft for oscillating, and springs holding the plate of the rails of the rear block in vertical position.

2. A device of the character specified, comprising a pair of blocks for engaging the axles, a pair of parallel rails for each block, the rails of each pair being hinged to the floor of the garage beneath the front end of the block, a rod slidably connected with the front block and having an upstanding lug for engagement by the front axle, an adjustable connection between the rear end of the rod and the rear block for constraining the rear block to move with the rod, springs for returning the blocks to normal position, and means for supporting the front ends of each pair of rails and releasable to lower the said front ends, and astop for engagement by the car when the wheels are lifted out of contact with the supporting surface for the block, each block being grooved on its under face to receive the rails.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising a pair of blocks for engaging the axles, a pair of parallel rails for each block, the rails of each pair being hinged to the floor of the garage beneath the front end of the block, a rod slidably connected with the front block and having an. upstanding lug for engagement by the front axle, an adjustable connection between the rear end of the rod and the rear block for constraining the rear block to move with the rod, springs for returning the blocks to normal position, and means for supporting the front ends of each pair of rails and releasable to lower the said front ends, and a stop for engagement by the car when the wheels are lifted out of contact with the supporting surface for the blocks.

i. A device of the character specified, comprising a pair of blocks for engaging the axles, a pair of parallel rails for each block, the rails of each pair being hinged to the floor of the garage beneath the front end of the block, a rod slidably connected with the front block and having an upstanding lug for engagement by the front axle, an adjustable connection between the rear end of the rod and the rear block for constraining the rear block to move with the rod, springs for returning the blocks to normal position, and means for supporting the front ends of each pair of rails and releasable to lower the said front ends.

5. A device of the character specified,

comprising a pair of supports for engaging the axles, rails for each support, the supports being slidable on the rails, means for raising and lowering the front ends of each pair of rails, and means operated by the movement of a car for sliding the supports on the rails, said means comprising a rod slidably connected with the front support and adjustably connected with the rear support and having a stop for engagement by the front axle, and springs for returning the supports.

6. A device of the character specified, comprising a pair of supports for engaging the axles, rails for each support, the sup ports being slidable on the rails, means for raising and lowering the front ends of each pair of rails, and .means operated by the movement of a car for sliding the supports on the rails, said means comprising a rod slidably connected with the front support and adjustably connected with the rear support and having a stop forengagement by the front axle.

7. A device of the character specified, comprising a pair of supports for engaging the axles,'rails for each support, the supports being slidable on the rails, means for raising and lowering the front ends of each pair of rails, and. means'operated by the movement of a car for sliding the supports on the rails.

8. A device of the character specified, comprising a shaft, bearings for supporting the shaft and adapted to be secured to a fixed support, said shaft having at one end a lateral lug, a lifting plate at the other end of the shaft and in alinement therewith, and rigid with the shaft, and'a lever journaled on the shaft adjacent to the lug, the upper end of the lever being offset outwardly past the lug for the purpose specified.

LIZZIE HILL.

Witnesses E. G. WESTON, H. P. WEBSTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (2. 

